This story discusses suicide.
asserted
story → discuss → suicide
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
asserted
you → know → 988
Adults who reported using prescription weight-loss medication in the last year had higher rates of depression, mental-health counseling, suicidal thoughts and suicide-related behaviors compared to people who did not take the drugs, according to an observational study.
uncertain
who → report → study
The research, conducted at Asan Medical Center in South Korea, analyzed data from 27,741 adults (10,908 men and 16,833 women).
asserted
research → conduct → adults
Of these participants, 846 had been taking prescription medications for weight control during the previous year, while 26,895 did not take them.
asserted
26,895 → take → them
The weight-loss drug users were 1.9 times more likely to experience depression and twice as likely to seek mental health counseling.
asserted
users → experience → counseling
They were also 2.7 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 1.7 times more likely to make a suicide attempt.
asserted
They → have → attempt
The associations were stronger among those using the medications who gained or regained weight.
asserted
who → use → weight
"The tendency for depression and suicide-related indicators to increase as weight rebounds after using weight-loss drugs may reflect not only the neuropsychiatric effects of the drugs themselves, but also a complex interplay of psychological and social factors associated with failed weight control," the research team wrote in the study.
uncertain
team → relate → study
The findings were published in the Korean Journal of Family Practice on Aug. 23.
asserted
findings → publish → Aug.
Bonnie Mitchell, a licensed professional clinical counselor in California, noted that this was an observational, cross-sectional study.
asserted
this → note → California
"It shows a correlation between weight-loss drug use and self-reported mental health symptoms, but it cannot prove causation," she told Fox News Digital.
asserted
she → show → Digital
"It does not demonstrate that weight-loss medications directly induce depression or suicidal thoughts."
asserted
medications → demonstrate → depression
The data was collected between 2013 and 2022.
asserted
data → collect → 2013
"During most of this period, modern GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists used for weight loss (such as high-dose semaglutide/Wegovy or tirzepatide/Zepbound/Mounjaro) were either not yet on the market or had very limited real world uptake in South Korea," Mitchell said.
asserted
Mitchell → use → Korea
"The study sample captures older anti-obesity agents historically prescribed in South Korea during that decade, including phentermine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, topiramate and orlistat.
asserted
sample → capture → phentermine
"
Central nervous system stimulants – including phentermine-based drugs – have been shown to carry risks of anxiety, mood changes and insomnia, the counselor noted.
asserted
counselor → include → anxiety
"The study highlighted a striking sub finding that found users who gained weight despite taking the medication had 4.2 times higher odds of suicidal ideation compared to non-users," Mitchell noted.
asserted
Mitchell → highlight → users
Weight regain or perceived "failure" in weight management can trigger profound guilt, shame, helplessness and psychological distress, according to the expert.
uncertain
regain → perceive → expert
"Individuals with severe obesity have higher baseline rates of depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia," Mitchell said.
asserted
Mitchell → have → depression
"A cross-sectional survey cannot separate pre-existing mental health struggles from new symptoms that arose after starting a medication."
asserted
that → separate → medication
"Any active suicidal thoughts require immediate emergency medical care."
More research is needed to determine whether weight-loss medications themselves affect mental health, or whether depression and other symptoms are related to factors such as obesity or difficulties losing weight.
asserted
depression → require → weight
The researchers also need to determine whether mental health risks differ between specific weight-loss drugs.
asserted
risks → need → drugs
"Even though GLP-1 clinical trials show low absolute risk, the FDA’s product labels for chronic weight management drugs (like Wegovy and Zepbound) include warnings to monitor for mood changes," Mitchell noted.
asserted
Mitchell → show → changes
She recommends that a physician conducts a baseline mental health history before prescribing new weight-loss medications, evaluating past or current depression, bipolar disorder, or history of suicidal ideation or behavior.
asserted
physician → recommend → ideation
"Individuals with severe obesity have higher baseline rates of depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia.
asserted
Individuals → have → depression
"
"Doctors can inform patients and caregivers about potential mood changes so they know what to watch for," Mitchell said.
asserted
Mitchell → inform → what
"The next important step for ongoing monitoring would be to schedule check-ins at 4- to 8-week intervals during dose escalation, to evaluate both physiological progress and psychological well-being.
asserted
step → schedule → progress
"
Patients should contact their healthcare provider immediately if they notice new or worsening depressive symptoms, including the following.
asserted
they → contact → following
Any active suicidal thoughts require immediate emergency medical care," Mitchell advised.
asserted
Mitchell → require → care
"If a patient develops emergent depression or suicidal ideation during treatment, clinicians should discontinue the weight-loss medication and connect the patient with psychiatric support."
Eli Lilly, manufacturer of the tirzepatide weight-loss medication Zepbound, explicitly mentions "depression or thoughts of suicide" in its safety information.
asserted
Lilly → develop → information
"You should pay attention to changes in your mood, behaviors, feelings or thoughts," the website reads.
asserted
website → pay → mood
It further advises patients to contact a healthcare provider if mental health changes are "new, worse or worry you."
asserted
changes → advise → you
On Lilly's medical-information site, the company says that after reviewing clinical trials and medical reports, "no increased risk" of suicidal ideation or psychiatric adverse effects was identified.
asserted
risk → say → ideation
Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of the semaglutide weight-loss medication Wegovy, states in its trials that less than 1% of participants experienced suicidal ideation or behavior during treatment.
asserted
% → state → treatment
It also says there was "no difference between semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo."
asserted
It → say → semaglutide
Fox News Digital reached out to Lilly and Novo Nordisk for comment.
asserted
Digital → reach → comment
